Share “Oklahoma City finance academy banks on...”

Oklahoma City finance academy banks on building its arts program

The new art teacher at John Marshall High School has cobbled together community support to buy $10,000 worth of pottery equipment for the school. But her school is known for something besides art — its new finance academy.

On Thursday, John Marshall High School senior Carltrel Parker and visual arts teacher Kyla Kaufman look over pottery equipment donated by the Midtown Rotary. Photo By David McDaniel, The Oklahoman

Part of that process includes the addition of ceramics. She cobbled together grants to fund nearly $10,000 to launch the pottery program.

The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools gave $5,000 to buy a slab roller and other equipment.

The school district awarded Kaufman $2,600 for a kiln. Midtown Rotary and Rotary District 5750 bought more than $2,000 worth of equipment, including two potter's wheels. Rotarians delivered the last donation pieces Thursday.

Without the community support, Kaufman said she wouldn't have been able to buy everything she needed.

“There's no way,” she said. “No way at all. It would have taken me years. There's no way we could have done it without the support of the community.”

This spring, she'll give all the pottery materials a test run with the art club after school Wednesdays. Students are already peeking into her classroom to see the new tools, she said.

Excitement about the arts — even at a school that has a specialty finance program — is good for students, said Carlson, the principal.

“The focus right now is on technology, getting kids reading for college and career,” Carlson said. “By the same token, we don't want to forget about the importance of creativity. There's something to be said for hands-on creation.”

MORE FROM NEWSOK

The focus right now is on technology, getting kids reading for college and career. By the same token, we don't want to forget about the importance of creativity. There's something to be said for hands-on creation.”